“I was so happy to be back in the ring,” said Derevyanchenko. “I felt very good in there. Once I got going and sped it up, he couldn’t keep up with me. I’m ready to take on anyone.”

The unbeaten Russian, who fights out of Brooklyn, was at a major height disadvantage against the six-foot Russell, who attempted to control the fight with his jab from a distance. This led to a slow-paced fight early, which seemed to favor the taller boxer.

Derevyanchenko would eventually find the distance as he used double left hooks and feints to work inside Russell’s jab. Round four saw the two men begin to exchange in more flurries dangerous on the inside, with Russell taking the brunt of the damage.

Now fully settled into the fight, Derevyanchenko began to unload in round five and connected on a huge straight right hand that rocked Russell’s head back and put his opponent in immediate peril. Derevyanchenko pounced on the opportunity and began landing big shots in succession until referee Bill Clancy jumped-in to stop the fight 1:06 into the fifth-round.

The co-main event of the night saw undefeated prospect Ahmed Elbiali (15-0, 12 KOs) make quick work of Brazil’s Jackson Junior (20-8, 19 KOs) as he scored a first round knockout just 1:33 seconds into the first round.

Elbiali was returning from a 14-month layoff after recovering from a broken hand, but he wasted no time trading big punches. Both men were aggressive early on and dealt big hooks from the opening bell.

Working off of his jab, Elbiali caught Junior in a defensive crouch and connected with a perfect overhand right to the temple that sent Junior to the canvas. Junior was able to get to his feet but was deemed unable to continue by the referee, who called a halt to the bout 1:33 into the round.

Cincinnati’s Clark survived an early stumbled as Takahashi connected with a jab that stunned and stumbled Clark midway through the first round. Clark was able to regain his footing and use his jab as his primary mode of attack.

The southpaw Clark began timing Takahashi with left hands and right hooks and was able to control the action each round. Takahashi attempted to match Clark’s punch output, specifically targeting his opponent to the body, but was unable to land enough clean blows.

Takahashi came out aggressive in round seven and initiated several big exchanges. It was Clark who got the better of these moments, hitting Takahashi with a big left hand late in the round that left his opponent temporarily stunned, although able to return to his corner. Takahashi’s corner had seen enough however and called an end to the fight at the end of the seventh round.

In an action fight against his fiercest pro opponent yet, Jose Ramirez rose to the occasion and claimed a vacant junior welterweight belt Saturday night, outpointing Amir Imam by unanimous decision in the Top Rank ESPN main event.

Oleksandr "The Nail" Gvozdyk spent most of the fight with Mehdi Amar nailing him with an assortment of combinations to claim a vacant interim light heavyweight world title, and Michael Conlan scored an impressive KO victory to stay unbeaten.

Bob Arum and Don King, the most prominent promoters in boxing history, have butted heads for decades. But they are friendly rivals these days and enjoy talking over old times and telling their war stories.

Floyd Mayweather says he will begin training "soon" for a transition into mixed martial arts and that he already has been in contact with UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley about working together in the near future.

Isaac Dogboe's father, Paul, apologized for his remarks aimed at his son's opponent, Jessie Magdaleno, in which he said his son would throw the Mexican descendant "over the wall of Mexico and present the title to Donald Trump."

Gennady Golovkin was in disbelief when Canelo Alvarez tested positive for a banned substance. Along with Golovkin's trainer, Abel Sanchez, they used the word "disappointment," not about Alvarez, but his team.

Golden Boy and Top Rank have signed a deal for Jorge Linares to defend his 135-pound crown against Vasyl Lomachenko, who will move up from 130 pounds, on May 12 at Madison Square Garden in New York, sources said.

Oscar Valdez kept his belt against Scott Quigg but paid a high price for it as the Mexican featherweight champion had to have his jaw wire shut days after Saturday's bloody fight. Valdez's manager said it was unclear as to when he'd be back in the ring.

Mikey Garcia won a world title in his fourth weight class with his victory over Sergey Lipinets and must now decide which direction he wants to go with a number of potential opponents at different weight classes on his radar.